Awning



Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT oFFlcE i ISIDORE H. RATHE, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

AWNING Application filed December 27, 1929.

This invention relates toawnings. Awnings of the type used upon private dwellings for shading windows and the like have been mounted by securing to the build- 5. ing one end of the fabric used therefor; the other end was attached to a bar, which was pivotally mounted upon the building so that lifting mea-ns, connected to the bar, would effect the raising and lowering of the awning :l0 into and out of shading relation with the sition, still partially obstructed the opening window. However, in these cases, efficient shading of the window made necessary that the awning fabric, when pulled up against the wall of the building into inoperative pointo the dwelling, and thereby cut olf air and light at undesirable times.

Furthermore, the operation of mounting these awnings upon a building was a tedious 0 and unsatisfactory operation. A great number of securing devices such as nails were necessary to attach the awning fabric in position directly on the building. Each of these devices required individual handling on the occasions when the awning was mounted in, or removed from, position. The awkwardness of holding the heavy awning against falling while nailing the end of the fabric to the woodwork of the building merely accentuated the danger present when such awnings were to Ybe mounted at windows on high structures. Y

Roller awnings were devised to eliminate some of these defects, the end of the fabric 5 which was previously attached to the building being now secured to a roller. By properly manipulating the roller, the fabric was wound upon the roller to clear the window opening of obstruction, or was easily unrolled to shade the opening. However, in the operation of awnings ofthis type, it was found that the roller, under the shock transmitted thereto when the fabric was permitted to fall by gravity into shading position, or when the fabric was wound upon the roller and the bar carrying the free end of the fabric was suddenly brought up against the roller, would be acted upon by a force tending to throw it out of' the brackets or the likein which it was supported. Some posi- Serial No. l116,817.

tive means was necessary to restrain the rollers against such movement and retain them securely in their brackets.

Permanent assembly of the roller with its brackets was not desirable, since, as the seasons change, the necessity for such protection as awnings givealso changes. In the seasons when the protection is not desired, it is preferred that the awning fabric be removed from exposure to the elements. It is also desirable to be able to remove the awning fabric for repairs, replacement, or the like, whenever the occasion arises. In addition, ease of removability and assembly are factors which necessarily aect the ultimate cost of such awnings. In the case of dismounting the oldtype awning,ithe attache ing means, which ordinarily are nails or screws, must first be removed from the woodwork around the window opening before the awning may be removed. Vhen the awning is again to be mounted, the awning fabric must again be nailed to the woodwork. It can easily be seen that, with successive removal and attachment of the awning fabric, the woodwork of the building willbecome mutilated to an undesirable extent and the ability of the nails to retain the awning in A brackets previously used were essentially as easily separated as they could be assembled. In fact, the ease of removability made the roller and its supports separable due to the shock from the falling awning fabric. To remedy this situation, brackets with labyrinthian slots and like devices have been designed; in many observed cases, however, these attempted remedies have not eliminated the defect.

It is an object of this invention to provide an awning of the roller type, which may readily be assembled with supporting brackets, preferably secured permanently to the woodwork or other portions of the structure around the opening to be shaded. The brackets, according to the invention, will be constructed in such manner that separation of the roller from them will require least two distinct, independent, and preferably simultaneously acting forces, which, in the preferred assembly, must act in directions opposite to each other. In a construction of this character, it will be required either that t-he two hands of the person removing the roller from the support will be necessary for the operation, or that adjustment of the bracket by such person preliminary to the removal of the roller, will be necessary in order to release the roller from the bracket.

For the purposes of this invention, a bracket, formed with any type of slot for receiving an end of a roller, has positioned across the slot a gravity latch. The bracket may be of the type ordinarily used in connection with window blind and roller awning assemblies. The latch is constructed to hang across the. slot, in its normal position, when the bracket has been secured in position to receive the end of a roller, and is permitted a limited swinging movement within the slot. However, by a suitably arranged stop or abutment, the latch is restrained against movement out of the slot, and thus, unless the latch is swung inwardly of the slot, it will bar the outlet from the slot so that the end of a roller, which has been inserted into the slot by moving the latch inwardly, cannot be removed therefrom. Ordinary shocks, transmitted to the roller by the awning fabric, will be ineffective to move the latch away from the abutment and out of its locking position, and will, therefore, be inca*I able of throwing the roller out of the bracket. rlhe roller end would be thrown, by the shock, against the latch andrseat it more firmly in its retaining position. A spring may be used, where the effect of gravity would be insufficient, to assure the retention of the latch in the slot bar 1ing position.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one o-f the possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a. front elevational view of a portion of a wall, in which is formed a window opening, guarded by an awning, into the construction of which the invention has been embodied.

Fig. 2 is Va side elevational View of the assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is al side elevational view of a bracket, with which has been assembled a latch., according to the invention.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the bracket shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a bracket which may be used together' with one of the brackets of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational View of an end portion of an awning roller, especially adapted for use with the bracket shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the latch element, shown removed from the bracket.

On the drawings, the wall oi a building, or like structure, is represented at 10, and has shown arranged therein the framework 12 of a windev.T opening 14. Secured to the framework are the supporting members of an awning A. Awning A is constructed to be furled or unfurled, at will, in the manner hereinafter described, for shading the opening of the window 14.

The supporting members of the awning are comprised in the brackets 16 and 18, the roller 20', the U-shaped arm 22, and the pivoting brackets 24. The brackets 16 and 18' may be made of any desired material, pr-eferably metal, capable of resisting corrosion from the action of the elements. They are secured directly to the woodwork of framework 12, or may, in desired cas-es, be secured to other suitable portions, such as the brickwork, of which wall 10 may be constructed. Both brackets may be similar in their construction, one being constructed for righthand mounting, and the other for left-hand4 mounting. Each bracket, in such case, consists of a foot 26, vformed L-shaped to provide an additional brace, yet with economy of metal without resultant loss of strength. fr plurality of holes 28 through the foot provide means for the reception and positioning of fastening means to secure the bracket in position relative to the window.

An outwardly extending arm 30, shaped in any preferred manner, has a slot formed in the outermost portion thereof. rihe slet consists, in the bracket shown on the drawings, of a downwardly and angularly disposed portion 34 which opens at the front edge of the arm, and communicates, at its inner end, with a vertical portion 36, leading to the round or bearingportion 38. witl in which the end of the roller is intended to rest while the awning is in use.

The roller 20, for assembly with bracketsb 16 and 18, may be of any desired construction, and is preferably of wood. The end of the curtain fabric 40 of the awning is secured to the roller by nailing or like means.

One end of the roller has fitted thereon a" drum 42, to which one end of the lifting rope 44 isV secured. The rope is adapted to be wound upon the drum when the curtain fabric falls by gravity into the shading position; thereafter, upon drawing the rope of the drum, the fabric will be wound upon the roller and the awning raised away from the into, to form stub shafts for reception with-4 in the slots 32. The pins preferably are formed with heads 52 of T-cross-section, as appears in Fig. 6, the head being effective to prevent excessive end play when the pins are mounted within the slots 32.

The free end of the curtain fabric 40 may be lapped around the cross-member 54 of the arm 22, the lapped end being then stitched to the body of the fabric to secure it to the arm, and permit free pivoting movement of the arm relative to the fabric. If desired, an end valance 56 may be sewed to the fabric simultaneously with the sewing of the lapped end. The addition of the valance is customary to obtain additional shading and for ornamental purposes; if desired, it may be omitted. Side Valances also may be attached to the side edges of the awning fabric, in a well-known manner.

The ends of the legs of the arm22 are pivoted in the brackets 24, which preferably are secured to the wall so that the fabric of the awning, when in lowered position, will assume a position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the arm will be at an angle below the horizontal. By this arrangement, the fabric is brought closer to the window, and more effectively shades the opening, partially eliminating the necessity for side and end valances in guarding against light rays from the sides and front of the awning. The brackets 24 are constructed to permit the ends of the arm 22 to be sprung thereinto. Cotter pins through the ends of the arm assist the resiliency of the arm in assuring substantial permanency to the assembly, without loss of ease in dismounting the awning.

When the awning is dropped, the normal shock applied to the roller is forwardly thereof. due to the outward pull of the awning fabric and of the arm 22. The'porti on 38 is turned forwardly from the vertical portion, so that the end of the roller will be urged, by the shock delivered by the falling awning, into the portion 38. A tendency of the roller end to climb up the vertical portion 36, and then out of the angular portion 34, will thus be resisted. However, the reaction from this shock has, in many cases, been sufficient to throw the roller up the vertical portion 36. Either on a. subsequent rebound of the awning, if the end of the roller happens to be properly positioned, at the entrance to the angular portion 34 by the action of the first shock, or even without such rebound, the end of the roller has been seen, in many cases, to separate from the bracket, with consequent damage to the awning.

In order to prevent the inopportune separation of pins 50 from slots 32, the outer wall in the angular portion 34 of slot 32 is cut away to provide a ledge 58 from which arises an abutment 60, integral with the metal of the bracket. Abutment 60 serves as a stop to arrest outward movement of a latch 62, which preferably is pivoted to bracket arm 30 at a point above slot 32, so that it will normally hang down across the slot and, with the coaction of the abutment, prevent movement of pins 50 out of theslot. However, the latch will be free for movement rearwardly into the slot to Vpermit the pins to enter the slot without any interference.

The latch is preferably constructed of a piece of metal, bent, as shown in Fig. 7, to a U-cross-section, 'a portion of the metal at the bend being cut away to provide two independent forks 64, which are slipped over the bracket arm, all being secured pivotally together by a pin 66. The legs 68 of the U-body portion are continued from the forks 64 and are sufficiently spaced to slide over the arm so that the base of the U may abut the edge of the arm. In this manner, the latch may be moved across the slot until the legs 68 are substantially over the arm of the bracket, to leave the slot free for the movement of the pins out therefrom. If it is desired'to remove a pin from a slot, the latch guarding that slot must first be actuated to unlatching position by some force independent of the force moving the roller pin out of the slot; that is, if the hand of a person is attempting to remove the roller, the other hand of that person, or some other means, must iirst be brought to bear upon the latch to move it inwardly of the slot and clear the slot of the obstruction presented by the latch.

In the preferred construction, but one latched bracket is necessary. The other bracket may be constructed as shown in the bracket 70 of Fig. 5. Ai vertically extending slot 72 in the arm 7 4 of this bracket has the upper portion thereof enlarged into a portion 76 of sufficient size to permit the insertion therethrough of a head 52 of one of the pins. The lower'end of the slot may have an enlarged bearing portion 78; such enlargement is, however, necessary only to permit slight play of the roller end. Pin 50 is thus securely held in position in bracket 70, While the latch 62 on the other bracket Will effectively restrain the associated pin against separation therefrom, and thereby lock the roller in its supports.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and Which is Well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A bracket for rollers comprising a body portion having a substantially vertical slot therein c-pening at an edge of said body portion, a latch pivoted to said body portion and extending across said opening, and means to prevent movement of said latch out of said opening comprising an abutment for said latch integral With said bracket, and extending therefrom into said slot.

2. A bracket for rollers'comprising a body portion having a substantially vertical slot therein opening at an edge of said body portion, a latch pivoted to said body portion and extending across said opening, and means restraining the latch to movement orily Within said opening.

3. The combination of a roller and a bracket, the bracket having a slot, the roller having an end thereof mounted in said slot, and means associated With said bracket for preventing separation of the roller end from the slot, said means normally being positioned by gravity to lock the roller end and t-he bracket together upon movement of the roller end into the slot, said means, to permit separation of the roller end and bracket, requiring an actuating force opposed in direction to that acting to remove the roller end.

4. rl'he combination of a roller and a bracket, the bracket having a slot, the roller having an end thereof mounted in said slot, and means Within the extent of the slot and associated with said bracket for preventing separation of said roller end from said slot, said means being normally active to lock the roller end and the bracket together upon movement of the roller end into the slot.

5. The combination of a roller and a bracket, the bracket having a slot, the roller having an end thereof mounted in said slot, and means associated with said bracket and Within the extent of, and having a portion extending across, the slot for preventing separation of the roller end from the slot, said means, upon movement of the roller end into the slot, becoming normally active to lock the roller end and the bracket together.

6. The combination of a roller and a bracket, the bracket having a slot, the roller having an end thereof mounted in said slot,

and means associated With said bracket and M Within the extent of the slot for preventing separation of the roller end from the slot, said means being normally positioned by gravity and, in normal position, having a portion thereof extending across the slot to lock the roller end and said bracket together after movement of the rolle'r end into the slot.

7. A bracket for rollers comprising a base for the bracket, a body portion for the bracket having a slot formed therein for the reception of the roller end and opening at an edge of the body portion, and means pivoted upon the body of the bracket and extending Within, and normally across, the slot in spaced relation to said edge to bar exit of the roller end from the slot.

8. A bracket for rollers comprising a base for the bracket, a body portion for the bracket having a slot formed therein for the moving the roller end out of the slot to permit such removal of the roller end from the slot.

9. A bracket for rollers comprising a base for the bracket, a body portion for the bracket having a slot formed therein for the i reception of the roller end, and means pivoted upon the body of the bracket and a stop extending across the slot and cooperating With the pivoted means to bar exit of the roller end from the slot.

10. A bracket for rollers comprising a base for the bracket, a body portion for the bracket having a slot formed therein and opening at an edge of the body portion for the reception of the rollerend, and means pivoted upon the body of the bracket a stop extending across the slot in spaced relation to said edge and cooperating With the pivoted means and to bar exit of the roller end from the slot, said means cooperating with' the stop to permit free movement of the roller end into the slot but requiring actuf y ati-on cy a force independent of the force moving the roller end out of the slot to permit removal of the roller end from the slot.

ilo

vided thereon, means for supporting the roller for operation including a bracket having means for receiving the bearing means, and means on the bracket permitting association of the bearing means With the bracket but preventing involuntary separation thereof, said means being limited to movement across the path of the bearing receiving means.

12. In combination, apparatus for positioning a shading means in eective or noneffective relation, Which includes; a roller upon Which the shading means may be Wound, the roller having bearing means provided thereon, means for supporting the roller for operation including a bracket having means for receiving the bearing means, and means on the bracket permitting association of the bearing means With the bracket but preventing involuntaryT separation thereof, said means normally extending transversely of, and being limited to movement across, the path of the hearing receiving means.

13. A bracket for retaining in position the bearing of a roller for light shading means, Which includes: a body portion having bearing receiving means therein, a detent to permit association of the bearings With, but to prevent involuntary separation of the bearings rom the bracket, and means to limit the detent to movement Within the range of the bearing receiving means.

lll. A bracket for retaining in position the bearing of a roller for light shading means, which includes: a body portion having bearing receiving means therein, a pivoted detent normally extending transversely of the bearing receiving means, and means to limit the detent to movement Within the range of the bearing receiving means.

l5. A bracket for rollers comprising a body portion having a substantially vertical slot therein opening at an edge of said body portion, a latch pivoted upon said body portion and extending across said opening, and means to prevent movement of the latch out of said opening comprising a portion integral with the bracket.

16. A bracket for rollers comprising a body portion having a substantially vertical slot therein opening at an edge of said body portion, a latch pivoted to said body portion and normally hanging across said opening, and means to prevent movement of said latch out or' said opening.

17. A bracket for rollers comprising a body portion having a substantially vertical slot therein opening at an edge of said body portion, and a latch pivoted to said body portion and normally hanging across said opening, said latch being movable inwardly only of said slot to unbar egress out of said slot.

ISIDORE H. RATl-IE. 

